Patent application title: Method and System for Managing Folders of Email Accounts and Voice Messages

Abstract:

A system for managing access to folders of an email account so that some
folders can be viewed by Internet users other than the email account
owner One way of access is simply by typing an Internet address in an
Internet browser Contents can also be posted by any Internet user to
those publicly accessible folders. One way of posting is simply by
sending an email addressed to that folder A voice message management
system manages multiple voice message boxes for each subscriber for later
retrieval such as one main incoming message box and an advertisement
voice message box for storing targeted advertising messages. The incoming
voice messages are routed to their respective boxes based on their type,
preferably without ringing the user's telephone at the time of delivery.
An email and voice message management system for monitoring and managing
respective inboxes, folders or boxes of multiple email and voice
communication accounts.

Claims:

1. A system for managing access to folders of email accounts for a
plurality of email account subscribers, the system comprising:a storage
device operable to store, for a plurality of account subscribers, account
access data of at least one email account of each account subscriber,
each email account having an inbox folder and at least one second folder
other than the inbox folder;a processor;a management program executed by
the processor and operable to:receive from an Internet user a request for
information concerning the email account of a particular account
subscriber through the Internet without logging in to the email
account;retrieve, responsive to the received request for information, the
content of the second folder from an email server servicing the email
account for the particular account subscriber based on the account access
data stored in the storage device; andsend to the Internet user the
retrieved content.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein:the request for information
concerning the email account includes a URL containing a domain name, a
user name and a folder name;the management program retrieves the content
of the second folder and sends the retrieved content based on the
received URL.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the URL is in the form of
www.domain name.com/user name/folder name.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein an access authorization to the
second folder of the email account for the particular account subscriber
indicates a public folder and the management program makes the second
folder accessible by any Internet user.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the particular email account
subscriber subscribes to multiple email accounts at different email
servers; andthe management program sends to the Internet user data
concerning the second folder of the multiple email accounts for the
particular account subscriber.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the particular email account
subscriber subscribes to multiple email accounts at different email
servers; andprior to sending the content of the second folder, the
management program sends to the Internet user a listing of the second
folders of the multiple email accounts for the particular account
subscriber.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the storage device further
stores access authorization for each second folder of each account
subscriber and the management program controls access of the each second
folder by Internet users according to the stored access authorization.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein:the request for information
concerning the email account for the particular account subscriber
includes an Internet address or an email address; andthe Internet or
email address contains the name of the second folder of the email
account.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a posting program
executed by the processor and operable to:receive from the Internet user
a request to send data to the second folder of the email account; andsend
the received data to the second folder of the email account as an email.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the posting program sends the
received data to the second folder via IMAP or SMTP.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the request to send data
includes an email address containing the name of the second folder of the
email account.

12. A voice message management system comprising:a storage device having:a
first message box operable to store voice messages for a plurality of
account subscribers for later retrieval;a second message box other than
the first message box and operable to store voice messages for the
plurality of account subscribers for later retrieval;a processor;a
message processing program executed by the processor and operable
to:route voice message to either the first or second message box based on
the type of the voice messages;retrieve the stored voice messages in the
first and second message box according to subscriber input;

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the message processing
program routes the voice message to the second message box without any
alert associated with a telephone call.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the voice message contains
an identifier that identifies which message box the message is to be
routed to.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the message processing
program receives the voice message as a digitally encoded voice message
that contains the identifier.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the identifier includes an
XML tag that identifies the message box the voice message is to be routed
to.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein the identifier includes an
instruction to delete the voice message if the voice message is not
retrieved by a subscriber associated with the voice message within a
predetermined period of time.

18. The system according to claim 12, wherein the message processing
program is further operable to route digital data other than voice
messages to the second message box.

19. The system according to claim 12, wherein the message processing
program performs authentication of the voice message according to a
previously agreed protocol between a sender of the voice message and a
provider of the voice message management system.

20. The system according to claim 12, wherein the message processing
program is further operable to prompt a subscriber retrieving messages
over a telephone line to retrieve messages stored in the second box
associated with the subscriber.

21. The system according to claim 12, wherein the message processing
program is further operable to allow the subscriber to connect to an
advertiser associated with the retrieved message over a communication
channel while the subscriber is connected to the voice message management
system.

22. The system according to claim 12, wherein the message processing
program allows the subscriber to rate the retrieved message and stores
the rating in the storage device for analysis.

23. The system according to claim 12, wherein the message processing
program is further operable to allow subscribers to retrieve messages
stored in the second box through the Internet using an Internet protocol.

24. A management system comprising a system for managing access to folders
of email accounts for a plurality of email account subscribers according
to claim 1 and a voice message management system according to claim 12.

[0002]This invention relates generally to data and voice communication,
more specifically to managing folders of email accounts and voice
messages.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003]This invention addresses several existing and anticipated problems.
One is the need for a consumer friendly and socially acceptable method
for prospecting and marketing by telephone (i.e., telemarketing). In the
U.S., the Do-Not-Call (DNC) regulations made it prohibitive for
telemarketers to continue their decades old marketing practices. The
telemarketing industry, by some measure, had employed up to 6 million
people and was a $70 billion (2000) industry. Telemarketing can provide
productive public service through their personal, direct, and "high
touch" messaging techniques and where the consumers have fast targeted
personable offerings.

[0004]A characteristic of traditional telemarketing call was that it could
not be easily distinguished from other personal or business to consumer
service calls and often occurred at inopportune times; thus even if the
target or prospect is interested in the message, the timing was often
wrong. This invention will enable the delivery (perhaps, even to those on
the DNC list, due to its consensual and voluntary access) and retrieval
of such messages at the recipient's option or choice. It is "Choice®"
opt-in, or opt-in at the point of delivery. As this method will depend
largely on voluntary initiative by the target to engage (i.e., retrieve)
the messaging channel, there is a natural hurdle or inertia to overcome
for the marketer, thus, the onus is on the marketers to continuously
deliver desired, properly targeted and rewarding messages.

[0005]Another problem is that due to digital technology and VoIP, the
lowering telecommunication costs and ability to fake the call origination
leads to "spoofing" and "phishing" where callers can purport to be the
recipient's service provider such as financial and other services. Thus,
there is a need to authenticate and differentiate certain commercial
calls or messages from a service provider to their customers.

[0006]This invention will provide differentiation, category sorting and
storage of select call messages. For example: it will have at least one
separate inbox or "voice" mailbox for select target marketing messages;
other mailboxes can be for Location Based Marketing (LBM) ads, public
announcements, or the like.

[0007]Still others are folders created by the user where, as a service by
the system, certain personal data is stored and uploaded from their
devices (e.g., pictures, video, memos, announcements, e.g., directions to
house and such) are available for access by others, e.g., via online
access (e.g., if VoIP service) through a limited access (only certain
user set folders are open) web page associated with the user's account.
The invention's voice message storage system, in one embodiment, will be
appended to the user's regular voice messaging system so that the user
can more easily access the retrieval system, but can be otherwise
self-contained (i.e., a "virtual-private" message system). Thus, there
can be private (only user access using ID and password), protected
(passworded only) and public (non-passworded) voice mail boxes, and this
system can be applied to inboxes or folders (Rack®, Rackmail®) in
email as well, where there are public and protected folders that are
accessible to others on permission and user set rule basis.

[0008]The rackmail invention uses the basic email protocols as its
foundation and creates a simple to use interface for the management of
many applications while simultaneously providing access to a group of
users (i.e., "viewers"). In a way, this method converges two popular web
technologies that are somewhat complimentary in nature and completely
opposite in usability, which are email and blogging; it can be seen to be
"super email" or "blogging lite", depending on the usage. The method and
system will include: (1) ability to manage multiple email accounts across
a disparate number of service providers; (2) ability to create the
"racks" or pseudo folders ("public" folders will be viewable to anyone,
"protected" folders will require password), which access user created
folders on service provider's email storage; (3) providing an easy to use
email driven name finding and sending emails (i.e., if permitted by user
to accept "outside" emails) in these folders (e.g., golf
userid@rack-mail.com for golf folder) and for locating such folders of
the email account owner or "poster" (as the email address is one of the
most known ID and easiest to remember); (4) providing an easy to use web
interface to enable users, with permission, to access folders from the
primary user (this access acts as a proxy to the email account and
handles security and authentication to ensure that unauthorized access to
other folders or emails doesn't occur); (5) providing a simple management
facility enabling a `Universe` to see email in folders, which constitutes
everyone with a rack email id, (this Universe is similar to a blog); (6)
providing a way to use IMAP protocol from a standard mail application
such as Outlook to access the rack-mail folders without requiring the web
interface.

[0009]Additionally, while blogging requires a user to learn specific tools
on creating a blog page, the present "rack" invention only requires users
to know how to use email. Every feature available in Blog would be
available in email. Rackmail could even borrow the concept of
blogrolling. Blogrolling is when a blog contacts a server to notify users
that the blog has been updated. What can also be installed is the concept
of "you got mail" or "new rack mail". When the rack is updated, a note
can be sent to the user or viewer via an identified source, or if they
have installed a rack folder in their email client it would automatically
get updated. Also, it is possible to create a blog interface that ties
into a Rack system and to serve the same purpose as blogging, but the
foundation is emails. Therefore, visitors and viewers can think they are
blogging (e.g., when a visitor leaves a comment, it is loaded to the page
via email in the background) when in fact, they would be using the
racking method.

[0010]The present invention is related to U.S. Application Pub. No.
US2002/0188689 entitled "Methods and systems for electronic mail,
internet target and direct marketing, and electronic mail banner", the
content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0011]One object of the invention is to provide special handling,
differentiation and delivery for select telecommunication and VoIP based
messages.

[0012]Another object of the invention is to provide means for a message to
a recipient to be delivered and directly stored instead of first ringing
or getting to recipient's phone.

[0013]Another object of the invention is to provide a separate category
based, storage or inboxes of both voice mail and data messages, in
particular, marketing messages.

[0014]Another object of the invention is to provide means to store video,
pictures and memos taken via the phone to their respective online storage
inboxes, and where some are accessible or open to be read/write, on
permission based, by others;

[0015]Another object of the invention is to provide means for open or
publicly accessible (open, or permission base) protected (password)
accessible folders using email technology and for such folders to have
individual URL (e.g., www.emailserviceprovider.com/userid/folderid)

[0016]Another object of the invention is to provide a link from the select
message to the marketer's CRM center, and where when the target user
retrieves a message and wants to speak immediately with the marketer, to
provide the target profile and subject of the call to the marketer's
representative.

[0017]Another object of the invention is to provide a visual mark and/or
distinctive ring tone for authenticated messages and calls.

[0018]Another object of the invention is to provide a feedback, i.e.,
rating system--from the recipient of an advertisement message to the
Sender.

[0019]Another object of the invention is for a marketer (or rack owner) to
have an advertising specific folder ("golf") and to have unlimited number
of the public to have also a corresponding "golf" folder (pseudo or
actual) on their email client and to have access to the contents of the
marketer's "golf" folder by clicking on their golf folder and for the
marketer to update the contents by emailing to the folder, e.g.:
golffolderID.accountname@emailserviceprovider.com.

[0020]A further object of the invention is to provide means for delivering
(bulk delivery or targeting) a common message to a defined group.

[0021]Yet another object of the invention is to provide authentication of
the message and/or caller.

[0022]Still yet another object of the invention is to provide means for
the sender and the system to control the location, placement or live and
dead dates of a message in the folder.

[0023]Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an
embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024]The drawings (not necessarily to scale) constitute a part of this
specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which
maybe embodied in various forms.

[0025]FIG. 1 is a diagram of major components for facilitating the special
handling, delivery, authentication, storage and retrieval and display of
a message according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0026]FIG. 2 is a flow process for facilitating the special handling,
delivery, authentication and storage of a message according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0027]FIG. 3 is a flow process for retrieval of a message according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0028]FIG. 4 is a flow process chart for the message retrieval and the
storage and structure for message categories and retrieval according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0029]FIG. 5 is a diagram of components and process of an authentication
process according to a exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0030]FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an email access management system
according to the present invention.

[0031]FIGS. 7A-7D are screen shots of sample web pages of an exemplary
embodiment of FIG. 6.

[0032]FIG. 8 is a web page displaying means for usage as a business
listing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033]Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided
herein. It is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied
in other forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to
be limiting, but to cover such alternatives, modifications, and
equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the claims.

[0034]Some figures show both components and process or functions. FIG. 1
is a diagram showing the basic components and functions of the present
invention. Also, while it shows certain functions and processes (e.g.,
32, 34) grouped in one component (30), in practice the functions can be
located separately.

[0035]FIG. 1. The system comprises at least one external sender's device
30, a message "gateway" handling, authentication, delivery and storage
system 40, and user's device 20. The sender's device has process 32 for
batching C (individually or bulk) messages and targeting (i.e., addresses
or phone number) of the recipients, and message management 34 (tracking,
open or view rate, marketing campaign metrics and administration, etc. D)
functions. The system 40 has processes 43 for authenticating the sender
and/or the message, then sorting 41 and storage 44 management, folders or
inboxes 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 and retrieval and display process 42.

[0036]Elements 41-43 constitute a message processing program that handles
routing of voice messages based on the types of voice messages being
received from a sender and handles retrieving of stored voice messages
according to selection/input from subscribers. For example, when checking
regular voice messages, the subscriber may be prompted to go to a
different message box to listen to other messages such as emergency
messages, targeted advertisement messages and the like. In a preferred
embodiment, the message processing program routes the voice message to
one of the different message boxes without any alert associated with a
telephone call such as ringing or vibrating because the voice message is
not a telephone call, but simply something that should be delivered to
the subscriber.

[0037]User device 20 such as a personal computer, telephone or a PDA has
various functions 22 for retrieving B and uploading A, personal data 24.
Also, folder 49 can be representative of a user created "open" folder or
"rack" in FIG. 6, where such can hold content accessible by others using
the methods in FIGS. 6 and 7. Also, a shortcut to any of the folders 47,
48, 49 can be separately located on the desktop or wireless web device of
the User or viewer and such can be made to blink or otherwise alert the
User or viewer when the contents of the rack is updated (e.g., a "high
priority" email is sent to the folder).

[0038]FIG. 2 is a process flow for sending a message. Sender creates
message or ad file 50 such as a voice advertisement message. Sender logs
51 on to System 40, System validates Sender and Sender creates a "x"
marketing campaign "x folder" or account. Sender uploads or batches 52
message to the x folder and also batches 53a recipient(s) addresses
(telephone number(s), VoIP address(s)) or if does not have the addresses,
selects 53b--from a menu or directory list provided by the
System--demographic profile(s) (e.g., geographic, psychographic, etc.) of
the desired recipients. System then delivers, stores 54 the messages to
the appropriate category folder or voice mail boxes of the recipients 55,
56 or 57 a group box.

[0039]FIG. 3 is a process flow for a user to retrieve a message created in
process 50. In step 60, User connects using 42 to the system's message
retrieval administration function 44 from phone 20. In step 61, the user
can either continue to regular message function or mailbox 45 or
alternatively go, step 62, to the separate mailboxes 46, 47, 48, 49. In
step 63, user retrieves (B, in FIG. 1) message "50" from "mail box 47".
In step 64, user "presses "star" key" on phone to be directly linked to
CRM center of sender "30" of the message and is identified to the sender.
In step 65, the CRM center of the sender searches its database and
retrieves the message 30 and profile of user displays such on the screen
of the CRM representative. And optionally, if the CRM center is located
outside of the user's country--and if in the interest of full disclosure
to the user and the fact that VOIP calls dialed to a local phone number
will display the local phone number (or an "800" area code), even though
destination is an oversea CRM center, thus, can be misleading to the
recipient--an automated recording plays as part of the greeting: "thank
you for responding to our message "50", you are being connected to our
CRM center in "country y""; for outgoing CRM calls, a country of origin
service call notice can be inserted using a process similar to step 122
of FIG. 5. (This is analogous to country of origin mark on products,
thus, for outsourced services as well).

[0040]FIG. 4 is process for storage of an ad message by a sender, its
various storage methods, message levels structure and retrieval by a
user. In step 70, user accesses the system 40 using a variety of methods:
a "toll free" dedicated number (not necessarily specific to the user),
step 71a or a dedicated speed dial preprogrammed into the phone, step
71b; or via a web browser using a standard Internet protocol, step 71c.
In step 72, the system uses Caller ID and location based mapping to
determine the id of the user and the location of the user's wireless
phone, in order to access the appropriate location ads storage. In step
73a and 73b, the user accesses the message menu and makes selections. In
steps 74, 75, and 76, the user drills down to choices. A Message Survey
function, database and query steps are shown at steps 77 to 79, where the
feedback is analyzed for improved targeting and marketing metrics.

[0041]FIG. 5. An outbound call center 101 has a software installed at the
PBX system 102 which will generate or acquire from code provider 104 and
add the unique authentication code at the time of outgoing calls. This
can be done automatically or on a call-by-call basis. The receiver's
phone 103a or the phone's service provider 103b has a software to filter
for such code. Validation or authentication agent 104 generates and
validates the code. In step 121, code is acquired and added to the
outgoing call data. In step 122, the call is sent using an identifier
such as a digital certificate indicating who they are, and included is
the key or digital signature for that sender. In step 123b, upon receipt
of the call at phone service provider's "call routing center" 103b
(alternatively at the phone or VoIP computer device, step) 123a)--the
call's data is filtered for such code--and the software immediately
sends, in step 124, the key and identifier to a third party 104 that acts
as a validation agent. In step 125, Validation agent does a lookup on the
key and determines if the ID sent matches what is in the Database. If
yes, in step 126, it sends back to the phone a positive, if no or
inconclusive, it sends negative. Based on positive or negative, phone
will indicate with a distinct tone, word or symbol, indicating that the
caller has been accurately identified. Further, if the call is from a
telemarketer and does not wish to ring the Phone 103a, the call can be
sent to a separate and dedicated voice mailbox for later retrieval by the
user.

[0042]In one embodiment, the call is a digitized voice message that
contains a destination identifier, using for example an XML tag, which
identifies to which message box the message should be routed to. The XML
tag may contain the name of the destination message box such as
"Advertising". The voice message may also contain an instruction that
instructs the system 40 to erase the message if it has not been listened
to within a certain period of time. Also, the message processing program
41-43 is capable of storing other message types that are not voice
messages since digitized voice messages are treated simply as a data
file. For example, the program may store picture files, motion picture
files, text files and the like for later retrieval by the subscribers.

[0043]According to another aspect, a method and system of managing access
to folders of email accounts of subscribers to both the subscribers and
non-subscribers such as the public is provided. This invention uses the
well-known concept of email as a basic foundation for communication as
well as posting sharing information on the Internet. As such, the
invention allows any Internet user, whether novice or sophisticated, to
use an email to post content on a website similar to blogging without
using any specialized programs or technical knowledge. The solution uses
the basic email protocols as its foundation and creates a simple to use
interface for the management of many applications while simultaneously
providing access to a group of users. The solution provided, called
RackMail, converges two popular web technologies that are somewhat
complimentary in nature and completely opposite in usability. RackMail
provides the following: (1) single access to manage multiple email
accounts for each subscriber across a disparate number of service
providers; (2) ability to create "racks" (pseudo folders), which access
existing folders on service provider's email storage without actually
storing the content; (3) provide an easy to use email driven name for the
purposes of posting content in these folders which is accessible through
the Internet (e.g., using the email address of
`public.johndoe@rackmail.com` for posting and locating content to the
"public" folder for subscriber named "johndoe" which is then accessible
by any Internet user); (4) provide an easy to use web interface to enable
users, with permission, to access folders from the primary user; this
access acts as a proxy to the email account and handles security and
authentication to ensure unauthorized access to other folders or emails
doesn't occur; (5) provide a simple management facility enabling a
`Universe` to see email in folders, which constitutes everyone with a
Rackmail id. This Universe is similar to a blog; and (6) provide a way to
use IMAP and SMTP protocols from a standard mail application such as
Outlook to access rackmail folders without requiring the web interface.

[0044]FIG. 6 shows a functional block diagram of the present email access
management system 200. The system 200 comprising a processor 232 and
management program 234 is connected to a plurality of user computers such
as 220 which is capable of accessing the Internet and the system 200
using a web client (e.g., Internet browser) 222 and email client (e.g.,
email program such as Outlook) 224 through standard Internet protocols
such as TCP/IP, SMTP and IMAP as is well known in the art.

[0045]The management system 200 is also connected to various servers
providing email services. Through a standard Internet connection, the
system 200 connects to a server servicing email account 228 which is
accessible by a domain name "domain1.com" and server servicing email
account 230 which is accessible by a domain name "domain2.com". Each
person may have multiple email accounts at various email account
providers. In the example shown, user "jdoe" owns an email account at
domain1.com and also at domain2.com. At domain1.com, the user jdoe has
three folders: "Inbox", "Politics" and "Music" while at domain2.com, jdoe
has three folders named: "Inbox", "Baseball" and "Art".

[0046]When the user subscribes to the rack email management system 200,
the various account access data that are necessary to access the email
systems at domain1.com and domain2.com are set up and stored in storage
device 226. The data may include such items as server name, user id, and
password. The racks in the system 200 are pseudo-folders that correspond
to the folders that exist in the subscriber's email accounts. The racks
"Politics", and "Music" correspond to email folders "Politics", and
"Music" in domain1.com and the rack "Baseball" corresponds to email
folder "Baseball" in domain2.com. Preferably, the racks are folders that
do not physically store any emails unlike the folders that exist at email
servers domain1.com and domain2.com. In other words, the rack system 200
acts as a proxy email system with no storage.

[0047]The storage device 226 stores access authorization for each folder
of each account subscriber and the management program 234 controls access
of those folders by Internet users according to the stored access
authorization. For example, the "Politics", "Baseball" and "Music" racks
are marked by the account subscriber as "public" that can be accessible
by any Internet user. It is important to note that some racks may be
marked as private and some as semi private. If marked as private, then
only the rack account subscriber that set up his email accounts could
have access to those folders. If marked as semi-private, then the rack
subscriber would have to specify a list of other rack subscribers who can
access such folders or specify a particular password for that folder
which is required by Internet users wanting to view that folder content.

[0048]There are many ways to access the rack content through the Internet.
One way is to use a web client 222. User "bsmith" uses the web client 222
to connect to rackmail system 200 using a URL. For example, bsmith types
in "http://jdoe.rackmail.com". The URL resolves and identifies it as a
request for a listing of all rack that are accessible to the public. The
management program 234 of the rackmail system 200 then retrieves the
associated email information from both domain1.com and domain2.com and
returns the list of all non-private folders for display back to user
bsmith. The Internet user bsmith can directly access the folder by, for
example, typing in "http://jdoe.rackmail.com/politics". Alternatively,
the URL can be in the form of "http://www.rackmail.com/jdoe/politics".
The URL resolves and identifies it as a request for the politics rack
which corresponds to the "politics" folder residing in the server at
domain1.com. The management program 234 of the rackmail system 200 then
retrieves the associated email information from domain1.com, folder
"politics", and returns all items in that folder for display back to user
bsmith. As the politics folder was marked as public, the user bsmith can
advantageously access the politics content without any password or any
account access information for the email account located at domain1.com.
Once the list of emails in that folder is displayed, the user can click
on any email to display the individual content of the selected email.

[0049]It is important to note that the location of the system 200 relative
to the servers servicing domain1.com and domain2.com is not important. In
fact, it is very possible that the system 200 and the server for
domain1.com may be provided by the same provider and have the same domain
name and possibly located even in a single computer system. For example,
if domain1.com and the rack system 200 are offered by a single service
provider, then the politics and music folders can be accessed by any
Internet user by typing, for example, an Internet address of
"http://jdoe.domain1.com/politics" and "http://jdoedomain1.com/music",
respectively.

[0050]Another way to access the rack content is through an email client
224. User bsmith uses the email client 224 to connect to the rackmail
system using an IMAP connection. User sets up the email client to access
the politics rack. To do so, the standard IMAP would be modified slightly
to recognize the folder information. As an example, the IMAP can be
modified to recognize the folder information by filtering the first word
that appears in an email address format. The email address to retrieve
the politics content from jdoe's email account at domain1.com would be
"politics.jdoe@rackmail.com" in which the rack system 200 server can be
accessed by "rackmail.com". The Rackmail system 200 then retrieves the
associated email information from domain1.com, folder X1, and returns all
items in that folder for display back to user bsmith.

[0051]Various methods of posting content to the email accounts for access
by the Internet users will now be described. One way to post content is
by using a web client 222. User bsmith uses web client 222 to connect to
rackmail system 200 by typing in a URL. For example, to access jdoe's
baseball rack, a user types in "http://jdoe.rackmail.com/baseball". The
URL resolves and identifies it as a request to post information on the
baseball rack. The management program 234 retrieves the associated access
authorization stored in the storage device 226. If it is at least
semi-private, then the rackmail system 200 either requests a password or
compares the user's subscriber ID in the list previously set up by
subscriber jdoe. Once the posting access is granted, the user can submit
the information to be posted using a standard post submission procedure
(normal website operation). The management program 234 then takes the
posted information, formats it into an email with an email address of
"Y1.jdoedomain2.com" and sends the associated email information to
domain1.com, folder Y1 using the IMAP. As discussed above, the IMAP
should be slightly modified to recognize the folder name in the
destination email address field and to properly route it to the correct
folder.

[0052]FIG. 7 illustrates a flow processes and sample web pages according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention executed by the
management program 234 in the case where the same service provider is
providing the rack system 200 and email service at a URL location of
"domain1.com". FIG. 7A shows web page 211 which represents the first
screen displayed when the above URL is typed into the web client 222. If
an Internet user other than the subscriber "mrpublic" is interested in
viewing the folders of mrpublic, then the user can search for his name by
typing in his email name. If the subscriber "mrpublic" desires to log
into his email account at domain1.com, then the user name and password
are supplied through 211b. The result of the successful login as a
subscriber is shown as web page 212 in FIG. 7B. The web page 212 shows
the subscriber's main folders Inbox, Public folders Baby_Pictures,
Camping_Pictures, My_resume, House_Renovation and Presidential_Campaign,
and Protected folders Bio_Lab_Homework and My_Movies. The Inbox is a
private section that can only be accessed by the subscriber himself The
Public folders are accessible by any Internet user by simply typing in a
URL address of "mrpublic.domain1.com/public folder name". The Protected
folders are accessible by any Internet user provided that a correct
password is supplied.

[0053]FIG. 7C is a main web page 213 of mrpublic that can be accessed by
any Internet user by typing, for example, "mrpublic.domain1.com". The
webpage 213 displays the list of available folders on the left portion of
the screen and optionally displays an introductory page as shown in the
main part of the display. Such introductory page can be designed and
uploaded to the system 200 when the subscriber mrpublic subscribes to the
rack email management system. When the Internet user clicks on the
Baby_Pictures folder or types in an URL address of
mrpublic.domain1.combaby_pictures, web page 214 as shown in FIG. 7d is
displayed on the Internet user's computer screen.

[0054]FIG. 8 is home page of a business which is similar to FIG. 7C,
except that the introductory page is displayed along with the emails at
the bottom. The user name for this business is "8005551212" which is
conveniently the telephone number of a business called "First Health".
The listed emails are sent using an email address of
8005551212.homepage@domain1.com.

[0055]The foregoing specific embodiments represent just some of the ways
of practicing the present invention. Many other embodiments are possible
within the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the
invention is not limited to the foregoing specification, but instead is
given by the appended claims along with their full range of equivalents.